Dark Waters 2 Power Combo

Dark Waters 2 Power Combo Review

Games Global and its network of 30+ partner studios have been really keen on the Power Combo franchise lately, and it’s easy to see why. This type of gameplay has been trending across the industry – just look at the dozens of ‘3 [insert name]’ games released on a monthly basis. Among the developers who’ve already charted this territory is JustForTheWin, who launched the original Dark Waters in early 2024.

Fast forward a year and a half, and the adventure continues with Dark Waters 2. This direct sequel builds on the familiar swashbuckling Power Combo formula and promises an experience bigger, bolder, and, presumably, better. We are to find that out in my Dark Waters 2 Power Combo slot review, so read on!

If you’ve played the original Dark Waters, you’ll quickly notice that a lot has changed in the sequel. And at the same time, a lot hasn’t. JustForTheWin kept the core idea and main features intact – it would’ve been weird if they hadn’t, considering how well players received the game – while throwing in some subtle but meaningful changes.

The first thing that catches the eye is the new backdrop – it’s more eerie now, with a gigantic Kraken looming over the passing-by buccaneer galleon. The contents of the reels haven’t altered much, with the same symbols from part one making a return. The structure of the reels themselves remained untouched, too – the game still plays out across a 6x4 layout with 4,096 ways to win. That’s the case in the base game at least.

Dark Waters 2 Power Combo Slot - Base Game

What really stands out, though, is the way the treasure chests above the reels have been upgraded. They now come with progression levels, a central novelty in the Dark Waters 2 Power Combo slot machine, and one of the chests has even been altered in the way it functions. I’ll break down exactly how those changes work in the next part of my review. ↓

Dark Waters 2 Power Combo Features

The core gameplay in Dark Waters 2 remains close to the original, sticking to the familiar concept. The bonus features have been enhanced, though, as well as some fresh mechanics have been added to push the Power Combo formula further.

Dark Waters 2 Power Combo Slot - Feature Progression

Money & Collect Symbols

Along with regular symbols, special Money symbols can appear on reels 1-5 in the base game, or on all reels in Bonus Spins. Each carries a random value, ranging from 0.5x up to 10x the bet, or one of the fixed jackpot prizes, namely Mini (15x), Minor (40x), Major (200x), or Mega, worth a massive 5,000x. The latter can only be awarded once per round.

Collect symbols, on the other hand, land exclusively on reel 6 at any stage of gameplay. Whenever one appears, all Money symbols in view have their values summed and instantly paid out. If multiple Collect symbols appear at once, which is possible through bonus features, each Money symbol is awarded the corresponding number of times.

Bonus Tokens & Progression Meter

The game uses three different tokens – purple, blue, and red gems, each tied to a specific feature, which are Giant Reels, Golden Reels, and Stack Collect, respectively. These tokens can land anywhere in both the base game and during free spins, and they contribute to the treasure chests sitting above the reels – although the graphical collection is simply cosmetic and doesn’t affect the chance of triggering the bonus. It’s pure random.

As alluded to above, each feature now has a progression meter. There are four levels, and you start at level 1 by default. Progression tokens, represented by huge shiny diamonds that can only land on reels 2-5 in the base game, are the key to leveling up on Dark Waters 2 Power Combo. Only one progression token can appear per spin, and when it does, it randomly boosts one of the three meters by +1, guaranteed. The higher the feature level upon the trigger, the more powerful it will be.

Bonus Spins

Bonus Spins can be randomly triggered whenever any Bonus token land, with the possibility of activating one, two, or even all three Power Combo features at once (it’s called combo for a reason). The round always starts with 10 free spins, no matter the activated feature.

During Bonus Spins, landing a new Bonus token can activate an additional feature at its current progression level, or if it corresponds to an already active feature, it can add +3 extra spins to the total tally to extend the duration of the bonus. Keep in mind, Progression tokens don’t exist during free spins, so instant upgrades are not possible. Once the round ends, the corresponding feature meter will reset back to level 1.

Dark Waters 2 Power Combo Slot - Bonus Spins

Giant Reels

When the Giant Reels feature is active, the reel grid expands beyond the 6x4 layout used in the base game. The higher the level, the more expansive the grid. Depending on the progression level when the Bonus Spins are triggered, the setup growth can be the following:

• Level 1 – 6x5 grid with 15,625 ways;
• Level 2 – 6x6 grid with 46,656 ways;
• Level 3 – 6x7 grid with 117,649 ways;
• Level 4 – 6x8 grid with 262,144 ways.

Stack Collect

This one powers up the Collect mechanic by introducing stacked Collect symbols during Bonus Spins, basically giving you multiplication opportunities. The stacks grow taller with each progression level, as follows:

• Level 1 – 2 stacked Collect symbols;
• Level 2 – 3 stacked Collect symbols;
• Level 3 – 4 stacked Collect symbols;
• Level 4 – 5 stacked Collect symbols.

Golden Reels

Last but not least, this feature makes entire reels contain exclusively Money symbols in Bonus Spins, significantly enhancing instant payout and jackpot possibilities. The number of reels affected, obviously, is determined by the progression level:

• Level 1 – 1 Golden Reel;
• Level 2 – 2 Golden Reels;
• Level 3 – 3 Golden Reels;
• Level 4 – 4 Golden Reels.

Diamond Menu

For those who don’t want to wait around for the features to trigger naturally, Dark Waters 2 Power Combo includes a Diamond Menu with several bonus buy options, giving you instant access to Bonus Spins, as well as an extra bet, producing higher winning opportunities:

• Coin Burst – 15x the bet per spin. Offers a boosted chance of landing Money symbols along with a Collect symbol. Only coin wins are possible, and Bonus Spins cannot be triggered here. Has a default RTP of 96%;
• 1 Kraken’s Choice – 30x the bet. Triggers one random Bonus Spins feature at a random progression level. Has a default RTP of 96.02%;
• 2 Kraken’s Choice – 70x the bet. Triggers two random Bonus Spins features at random progression levels. Has a default RTP of 96.02%;
• 3 Kraken’s Choice – 150x the bet. Triggers all three Bonus Spins features at random progression levels. Has a default RTP of 96.03%;
• Kraken Power Combo – 400x the bet. Triggers guarantees all three Bonus Spins features at maximum progression levels. Has a default RTP of 96.13%.

Note that Bonus Tokens and Progression Tokens do not appear during Coin Burst. This means not possible to build progression meters further while the feature is active, though they are retained at their current levels. Once you return to the base game, you can continue progressing from where you left off. Also worth noting, changing your bet has no impact on progression – the meters are shared across all stake levels. When buying the features, they don’t affect the progression levels built up in the base game – instead, these are determined randomly for each feature buy, or set to the max in the case of the premium Kraken Power Combo option.

Pros And Cons Of Dark Waters 2 Power Combo Slot

Our Verdict

Visually, Dark Waters 2 Power Combo retains the aesthetic established in the first part but produces a different vibe. The atmosphere feels more mysterious and sinister this time around – the whole presentation leans into a darker shade of grey, which works nicely with the Kraken looming in the backdrop. Yet the changes weren’t limited to visuals only, as the gameplay itself has seen some meaningful adjustments too.

The introduction of progression levels is something I genuinely appreciate, as it adds a fresh layer of variety and makes the features feel more dynamic. One chest, however, has been altered in a way I’m not a fan of. The previously known Multi Collect feature has now become Stack Collect. In part 2 of Dark Waters, Collect symbols can no longer land on all reels with the corresponding upgrade – now they exist exclusively on reel 6, but land in stacks. Personally, I find this weaker, and that was, perhaps, deliberately done for balancing.

Another new addition is the bonus buy menu, and specifically the Coin Burst side bet, which I have mixed feelings about. So, you get the boosted chance of hitting a cash collect payout, but it blocks everything else – no regular line wins, no bonus tokens, no progression, no path to free spins. To me, it feels like a half-measure, a side mode that restricts access to the main event of the game.

The numbers behind the sequel have been tuned as well – Dark Waters 2 Power Combo offers a slightly better hit rate, and the maximum win potential was raised to 6,250x the bet compared to 5,000x in the first game. Overall, I enjoyed what JustForTheWin did here. The game feels like a genuine evolution, a logical step forward, and I think those who liked the first Dark Waters will certainly enjoy the sequel too.